Op boston



(N0 Model.)

S. 0. MAINE.

I GRUT'GH. No. 254,348. Patented Feb. 28,1882.

5 J. CM/i/M,

STATES A UNETE PATENT OFFICE.

CYRUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,348, dated February 28, 1882.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beitknown that I, SEBEUs U. MAINE, of Boston, in the countyof Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and meful Improvements in Orutches, of which the following is a full,clear,and exact description.

Theseimprovements in crutches consist, first, of a ball-and-socket connection or joint between the cross-piece for the support of the person beneath the armpit and the staff; second, of a peculiar arrangement of the-handrest upon the staff, which rest is capable of being adjusted and fixed as to its height at pleasure; third, of a cross-piece for the support of the person beneath the armpit, madeof cork, of suitable shape, and confined within ashell, with its upper surface exposed and making a bearing for the person beneath the armpit, all substantially as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crutch broken away in its length, and at parts in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, at the foot portion of the crutch, with parts in vertical section. Fig. 3 is averticalsection,on an enlarged scale, of the crutch-support of the person beneath the armpit.

In the drawings, A represents the staff, split into two branches for a portion of its length; B, the foot, and O a cross-piece joining theupper ends of the two branches of the staff,'all

substantially as well known.

The cross-piece O carries a rest or support, D, for the person beneath the armpit. This rest or support D is of the ordinary shape in its length and width, and it is made of cork, placed within a shell or casing, E, shaped to surround it upon all its sides except its upper and hearing side,for the rest of the person under the armpit.

The cork F is secured in its shell or casing by screws a, which pass through the shell and screw into nut-blocks b, located within the thickness of the cork at suitable parts thereof.

The armpit support D has a ball, G, attached to it, which enters into a socket, H, of the cross-piece G of the crutch, and is there confined against escape byaplate, d, of convex shape,which sets over said ball G, and is fastened to said cross-piece by screws f or other suitable fastening devices, and all so that said support, by its ball G, can roll or rock in its socket H of said cross-piece without liability of escape therefrom.

The foot B of the crutch is provided with a foot piece or pad, K, made of india rubber or of anyother suitable material, and of any suitable form or style. This foot-pad has a shouldrr, g, which rests upon a shoulder, h, at the open end of the cylindrical thimble or sleeve L, having two or more longitudinal slots, 1, each of which runs from the other and open end of the sleeve, and between the two ends of the sleeve each of said slots terminates in a slot, m, that runs transversely to the length,"

and has an inclination toward the said shouldered-end, and extends partially around and about the sleeve. This sleeve fits by its open and slotted end the foot of the staff, and this foot has pins or studs a, suitably located for each to enter a sleeve-slot, l, and by forcing the sleeve on the staff to pass down the longitudinal slots 1, and thence by turning the sleeve or stafi' to pass into the-transverse portions m of the slots, all in connection with the abu ment of the foot-pad K against the end 0 of the staff, and the described shouldered bearing of said pad within the sleeve securing an attachment of the footpad to the staff. A support or rest, D, of the crutch for the person beneath the armpit, made of cork, is especially advantageous, as it is a non conductor of heat, is elastic and yielding, and is not an absorbent of the moisture or perspiration under the armpit. And, again, the attachment of a support for the person under the armpit to the staff by a ball-andsocket joint, as described, secures freedom of play thereto to accommodate it to the ever-chan ging movements of the person in walking with and resting. upon the crutch, thereby relieving the muscles and other parts of the person of undue strains and other disagreeable and well-known injurious effects from the use of crutches.

An attachment of the foot-pad such as herein described enables the pad to be easily attached and detached for replacement when worn out, or for a change from a pad or foot of one kind or style to another.

M is a hand-rest, extending across the crutch between its two branches.

P is ascrew-threaded pin, projecting at each end of the hand-rest or handle, and havingits screw-threads in each case running in opposite directions. These screw-threaded pins each enter a screw-threaded socket, r, and each socket is part of separate and distinct sleeves N N, of suitable shape each to loosely fit and slide upon a branch of the staff A when not confined thereto. The turning of the handle in one direction draws the sleeves N toward each other and binds them and the ends otthe screw-pins against the opposite sides of the branchesof the staff, and thus fixes the handle 'in position and against movement along the length of the branches ofthc staff. The turning of the handle in the other direction moves the sleeves away from each other, and thus loosens their bind upon and also the bind ofthe screw-pins against the branches of the stafi', leaving the handle then free to be adjusted as to its height upon the staff, when,turning the handle in the reverse direction,it can be fixed in such adjusted position,as before described. This arrangement of the handle or hand'rest obviously enables it to be adjusted as to its height on the staff, as may be desired to suit varying lengths of the arms of persons, and for other purposes.

The ball-and-sockct attachment of the rest for the person under the armpit herein described obviously is not limited in its use to any special form or kind of such support.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A crutch having the rest or support for the person under the armpit attached to the staff with a single ball-and-socket joint, sub stantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. A crutch having the rest or support for the person under the armpit made of cork, secured in a suitable shell or casing, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the branches of a crutch, of the hand-rest M, the pin P,p'assing through the hand-rest, and screw-threaded at its ends, as set forth, and the sleeves N, having sockets receiving said screw-threaded ends of the pin, whereby by turning said hand-rest in one direction the sleeves will be drawn toward each other, and thereby secured upon the branches of the crutch, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. A

SEBEUS O. MAINE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, WM. S. BELLoWs. 

